Dry closet



(No ModeL) Y I. D. SM

EAD.

SBT.- A

'DRY cLo Patented NOV. 26, 1889.

UNITED STATES `PATENT OFFICE.

ISAAC D. SMEAD, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

DRY CLOSET.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 415,799, dated November 26, 1889. Application filed March 5, 1889. Serial No. 301,930. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that LlsAAc D. SMEAD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Toledo, in the county ot' Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Dry Closets, of which the following is a specification. i My present invention consists in certain improvementsin dry closets, as hereinafter more fully set forth.

The drawing is a longitudinal vertical sec tion of the Sinead dry closet, showing the application ofmy present improvements thereto.

This invention relates to that class of dry closets for which Letters Patent were granted to me March 3l, 1885, No. 314,884, and November 9, 1886, No. 352,157, and for improvements in which other patents have been subsequently granted to me, reference hereby being made to the above-named patents Afor a more detailed description of the same, it only being necessary in this case to show and describe my present invention and the manner ot` applying the same.

In the accompanying drawing, D indicates the vault of the dry closet, with seats over it in the usual manner.- A indicates the foulair room, and I the ventdiue, the air being drawn through the vault and out through the vent-Hue, as indicated by the arrows, there being' nothing new in these parts, all of which are fully shown and described in my former patents.

Y As these closets were heretofore constructed and used the fecal matter was deposited in the vault D, where it was desiccated by the air drawn through the vault, the dried residue of such matter being burned in the vault or removed and carried away, as might be preferred, the usual practice at the present day being to burn it in the vault.

My present invention consists in combining with a dry closet of the kind above mentioned means for either washing away the deposits at frequent intervals or for washing it out at the end of the season, or from time to time, as ma-y be preferred. To enable this to be done, I construct the dry closet in the usual way, except that instead of the absorbpartition or floor R, which is set inclined, as shown, and has its lower end connected with a pipe S, leading to a sewer, and which pipe is provided with a suitable running trap T, as shown. This partition or door R is represented in the drawing as being made of metal but it is obvious that it may be made of may be inclined in either direction, as one or the other end can be most conveniently connected with the sewer; but I prefer to have it inclined toward that end of the vault at which the air enters, Jfor the reason that the air is brought more directly in contact with its inclined surface and the deposits thereon, and which is the more desirable in those cases where it is proposed to let the deposits remain for a considerable period of time beforeremoval, and in which case they will be wholly or partially desiccated by the passing current of air.

In the upper part of the vault D at a point just over the upper end of the inclined partition or Hoor R, I locate a tilting pan or receptacle I), as shown inthe dra-wing, this pan or receptacle being of such a form and so pivoted or weighted that when empty it will remain in the horizontal position, but when tilled or nearly filled with Water it will automatically tilt or tip on its pivot, and thus empty its contents onto the upper end of the inclined Hoor or partition R, as indicated by the dotted lines, such self-operating Waterpans being a well-known device; or, in place of the tilting receptacle P, I may usethe wellknown iushing-tank, of which there are many forms, the only requisite so far as this part of the device is concerned being that it shall be such as will at certain intervals automatically empty its contents upon the inclined floor R, and thereby wash the deposits into the sewer-pipe S. A water-pipe C is so located as to deliver water into the flushing pan or tank P, as shown in the drawing, said Y ICO pipe being provided with a valve r, by which the flow of the water can be regulated or shut off at will. It will readily be seen that by these means the contents or deposits on the inclined oor or partition R can be removed and carried into the sewer at intervals of a few minutes, or at longer intervals, as may be desired, the intervals of time being shortened by increasing the flow of water, and thereby causing the pan P to tip and empty itself more frequently, or by decreasing the flow the intervals may be lengthened, this being a matter to be determined by the janitor or person in charge, and of course varying more or less with the number of persons using the closet.; or, if preferred, the deposits may be allowed to remain in position and be desiccated bythe passing current of air, as heretofore, and the water attachment be used only at the end of the week or at longer periods of time simply as a means of removing the accumulated deposits and thoroughly washing out the vault.

It will of course be understood that the main feature of ths style of dry closet, and which is the large and continuous current of air through the vault, is not to be dispensed with, but will be used as heretofore, the flushing arrangements being intended to be used in connection therewith.

The present invention is more especially adapted to public buildings, school-houses, hotels, and the like located in cities or villages which are provided with sewers and a water-supply. 1

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. In combination with the vault D, having an air-inlet at one end and an opening at the opposite end connecting it with a ventiiue, the inclined floor or transverse partition R, with a sewer-connection at its lower end, substantially as shown and described.

2. In combination with the vault D, provided with an air inlet and outlet at its opposite ends, the inclined-floor or partition R, provided with a sewer-connection at its lower end, and an automatic flushing device P, provided with a water-supply, all arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC I). SMEAD.

Vitnesses:

A. C. KOEHLER, FREDERICK L. GEDDEs. 

